Coffee varieties

One of the oldest and most widely disseminated arabica varieties, historically the source from which many other cultivated varieties descend or mutated. Generally lower-yielding than more modern varieties, with a reputation among growers for cup quality.

A long-established arabica variety, historically grown on Bourbon Island (Réunion) after introduction from Yemen. Several other varieties, including Caturra, Pacas and Villa Sarchi, are natural mutations of Bourbon.

A naturally occurring dwarf mutation of Bourbon, first identified in Brazil. Its compact growth habit and higher yield made it popular across Central and South America from the mid-20th century onward.

A hybrid of Caturra and Mundo Novo developed in Brazil, combining Caturra's compact size with Mundo Novo's vigour. Widely grown across Central America and Brazil.

A variety originating from the Gesha area of Ethiopia, brought to prominence in the speciality coffee market after standout results from farms in Panama in the 2000s. Often associated with pronounced floral and tea-like character, though results vary considerably by farm and processing.

A variety selected in Kenya in the 1930s by Scott Agricultural Laboratories, bred for drought tolerance and cup quality. Closely associated with Kenyan coffee and often cited for pronounced acidity and complexity.

A variety selected alongside SL28 in Kenya by Scott Agricultural Laboratories, widely grown alongside it in Kenyan coffee-growing areas and generally better suited to higher-rainfall conditions.

A hybrid of Pacas and Maragogipe developed in El Salvador, known for unusually large beans and, in well-grown lots, notable cup complexity. Lower-yielding than many commercial varieties.

A naturally occurring mutation of Typica first identified in Brazil, notable for unusually large beans and plants. Generally lower-yielding and less widely grown commercially than its size might suggest.

A hybrid line derived from Caturra and Hybrido de Timor (itself a natural arabica-robusta cross), bred primarily for resistance to coffee leaf rust and other diseases. Widely used in disease-resistant breeding programmes across Latin America and Asia.

A rust-resistant variety developed by Colombia's national coffee research centre (Cenicafé), derived from Caturra and Hybrido de Timor breeding lines, and widely promoted to Colombian growers to replace more disease-susceptible varieties.

A naturally occurring hybrid of Typica and Bourbon first identified in Brazil, valued for vigour and productivity. A parent variety of Catuaí.

A naturally occurring dwarf mutation of Bourbon identified in El Salvador, agronomically similar in purpose to Caturra. A parent variety of Pacamara.

A naturally occurring dwarf mutation of Bourbon identified in Costa Rica, grown particularly in the country's western valley and Tarrazú growing regions.

Not a single variety but the term commonly used for Ethiopia's vast number of local, uncatalogued arabica landraces — a genuine reflection of Ethiopia's status as arabica's centre of origin and greatest genetic diversity, rather than a gap in CoffeeHQ's data. Unlike SL28, Castillo or the various Bourbon-descended varieties covered elsewhere in this catalogue, most Ethiopian farms grow a mix of local landrace populations that have not been individually classified, selected or named in the way varieties are elsewhere — "heirloom" or "landrace" is the honest description many sources use, not a specific cultivar. Gesha (covered separately) is one specific, now-famous landrace population that was collected, exported and later named; most Ethiopian heirloom material has not had that same individual attention.